Southampton Town Hosted Disability Services Resource Fair
The Southampton Town Disability Task Force (DATF) held its first Disability Services Resource Fair on Saturday, November 2nd at the Hampton Bays Senior Center. Councilmember Michael Iasilli, liaison to the DATF, spearheaded the effort to create an event where community members could learn about resources, connect with service providers, advocates, and support groups.
Representatives from state and local community organizations were on hand to answer questions and share information about services and resources for people with disabilities. Presentations were made by Self-Initiated Living Options, Inc. (SILO) and Parent to Parent of NYS, and art projects were available for the children in attendance to promote this year’s quote, “You Belong” theme.
Councilmember Michael Iasilli, stated, “Our first Resource Fair was a great success, with around 70 individuals attending throughout the day to gather information or attend a workshop. It is critically important that local government act as a bridge to help guide families with differently-abled children and individuals in need, and this event demonstrated how we can best do that. A special thanks to Jamie Bowden for her steady coordination in helping us organize the event.”
The Southampton Town Disability Taskforce seeks to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities by hosting events, creating forums for public discussion, connecting individuals with services, and raising awareness of issues that have a disproportionate effect upon persons with disabilities. The Town recently published a Resource Guide that provides a range of various resources in the public and private sector.
For more information about the Disability Services Resource Fair or the Southampton Town Disability Taskforce, please contact Jamie Bowden, Community Organization Specialist at 631-702-2423 or jbowden@southamptontownny.gov.
